The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-03-25
INTERSTATE COMMERCE..
Tho Questions that Asitate Wall Street
Htl. .NIf Non Rut Others. .sY ,rF..

NEw YORK, March 24.-ln regard To tkt
Interstate Commerce bill, these are the
questions that sgitate Wall street:
viii the operation Of the bill alec,
business? .U ~. s.r
VIII the products OF any sections OF The
country be barred out Of any other sec.
tionsr 1
viii the bill result in great railway
consolidationa2
The following interviews on the above
queries make very interesting reading:
"What will the Interstate Commerce
bill to?" aaid Rsilway Commissioner Fink
to-day. "AmonR other things 1t will ruin
= great many railways, many branches Of
industry and many manufacturers who
have thrived on competing rates."
THE bill ls not beneficial, then?'
ut would be II properly constructed.
Some sections OF 1t are admirable, but the
greater portion OF tho bill is such as YOU
might expect from men ignorant Of what
they aro doing. They are impracticab!e,
impossible, deplorable aec,ions." :
"What do you think Of the claim now
made that the bill wac originated and ell.
gineered by the railroada, which gave /.
Just enough opposition to prsvsn. its DC.
featp"
Railway men wanted euch bill, but
not In its present FORM"
what is your opinion OF liz effect on
businesa?"
"That It will either drive Tia praLucoso
Of the far west TO the wall or 10 the slow
export via the lakes. think the through
lines will thrive on 1t, as they can make
rates to the detriment OF their local trs !lic
without material injury to Themselves, #
not to the ruination OF shorter compe.i.
tors"
"Willit benefit the express canpanies ~
Certainly. II it Is true they are not ai.
ieeted by it."
The opinion on hestreet Is that several
is that saveral great systems Of railways
will consolidate and make auch tariffs A
will crush all lesser lines. II ia said that
the Pennsylvania and st. Paul systems,
practically in alliance now. will consoli.
date, and these will consolidate with the
Northern Pacific, giving them continen,
tai line.
1t is rumored that the Vanderbilt sye.
ten will also be put under the manage.
ment. 1t is now known that the Bslti.
more K Ohio deal ia ths first outcome of
the Interstate bill, and that tho near
future will see vast hystems consolidated.
The gousral opinion which tho various
express companies hsve arrived at is that
they are not eubject to the Interstate
Commerce bill, because they are not com.
mon carriers but forwarders.
Ex-senator Piatt, President OF the Uni
ted States Express Company, Gays: ave
arc evidently not Affected by the bill, aud
expect to do the fnture carrying OF live
stock and grain at rates lower than the
freight lines can handle it."
Mr.. John uoey, OF the Adams Express
Company. says: "We are ngnostics on
the subject. That is, we don't know,
We have decided that the express coupa-
MES are exempt and can 20 On doing busi-
ness at the old stand. We don't know
what tho bill is about; We don't know auy
one who knows; we never expect to know,
and ~e don't believe any ono ever viii
know. Wea are waiting the spectacle OF the
future meeting Of the commission Of men
who know nothing about railway bus;-
nesa, and will look forward to their re-
solving Oh tito subject with pleasant
smile."
United States Senator Vret, Of Missouri,
wss spen st tho Filth Aveuue Hotel.
"Whnt is your opinion Of the Inter.
Stato Commerce eillI" lie was asked.
II decline to be interviewed on that
thing" he said, in disgust. "Congress
felt that it must do something on the sub
ject ard the bill WA rushp1 fhrou,l
~ithou. tho knowledge Of what it all
meant"
i. is understood that that the various
exchanges aud shippers Of New York are
preparing Tor general war sgains. tho
execution OF the bill and lond protests arc
being made.